With more than 15 years of service to the town and a volunteer dedicated to land preservation, Conservation Commission Vice Chairman Joe Hovious is stepping down. Mr Hovious submitted his resignation, which the commission learned at its October 6 meeting.

“His dedication and expertise has been invaluable and he will be sorely missed by all,” Commission Chairman Ann Astarita said.

With more than 17 years of volunteer service between them, Mary Gaudet-Wilson and Marjorie Cramer stepped down recently from the Conservation Commission. Ms Gaudet-Wilson had served on the commission for seven years, and Ms Cramer had more than a decade to her credit.

Preserved as open space, the High Meadow in Fairfield Hills will also be protected by a management plan, which the Conservation Commission members are finalizing, according to commission Chairman Mary Gaudet-Wilson.

“Meadows habitat is what we have the least of in Connecticut and it’s valuable for certain species and biodiversity,” she said. The plan being drafted, which must then be approved by other town officials, will be based on a habitat management plan already written for both the High and West Meadows at Fairfield Hills.

Members of Newtown Conservation Commission are again offering their services to residents who want help identifying invasive plants for private homeowners.

Invasive plants have become an ever-increasing problem for Newtown, both in landscaped areas as well as forests and open spaces. Some invasives are actually sold in nurseries and arrive in our yards by planting them. Others have spread into uncultivated areas, crowding out native species and decreasing the overall health of our forests and open spaces.